Mr. President, I move that these names be added to the list of honorary life members of the Minnesota Horticultural Society.

There are several seconds to the motion.

The President:  A very fitting tribute, I am sure.  Are there any remarks?  The name of Mr. Cummins calls my attention to the fact that about twelve years ago he presented this society with the gavel that I hold in my hand.  This gavel is made of black walnut grown by Mr. Cummins on his own place.  I do not suppose that he made the gavel himself, but it is made of material raised on his own farm, and when this gavel comes down good and hard I want you to think of Mr. Cummins.  Are you ready for the question, that those gentlemen suggested be made honorary life members?

Motion is carried unanimously.

The President:  I am now going to call on the young men from the University Farm who are contestants for the Gideon Memorial Fund. (See index.)

Contestants thereupon read their essays.

The President:  I will now ask the judges to retire and decide which of these young men is entitled to this prize money.  For the benefit of some of the newer members who may not understand the situation I will say that some years ago a number of the members of this society believed that we should commemorate the good work done by Peter M. Gideon.  A sum of money was raised to be known as the Gideon Memorial Fund.  It was decided that that money be placed at interest and that the interest derived therefrom be offered as prizes to young men attending our agricultural school or college.  They were to deliver addresses at the meetings of the Minnesota Horticultural Society, and the young men preparing the best papers and making the best talks would be awarded this prize money, the accrued interest from this fund.  So we have annually three young men from the agricultural college that present papers or make addresses on subjects that are of importance to this society.  This is a memorial for Peter M. Gideon, who has done such splendid work for the fruit raisers of the Northwest.

While we are waiting for the report of the judges I will ask Mr. Ludlow to come forward and tell us about a letter that he received from Peter M. Gideon, November 2, 1885, and which was accompanied by Mr. Gideon’s last catalog.

Judges announce their decision. (Applause.)

Premiums Awarded to Gideon Memorial Contestants: 

1.  The Plum Curculio—­Edward A. Nelson. 2.  Standardizing the Potato—­A.  W. Aamodt. 3.  Marketing Fruit at Mankato—­P.  L. Keene.

The President:  I am now going to call on some of the delegates to this meeting.  Mr. George H. Whiting, representing the South Dakota Horticultural Society, we will ask him to come forward and say a word.

Mr. Whiting:  Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen:  I do not know why Mr. Cashman should ask me to come forward.  I have not very much to say and could have said it back there just as well.  Perhaps you will wish I had stayed back there.